Guide to Visiting Potawatomi State Park — Best Things to Do
Potawatomi State Park sits on the shore of Sturgeon Bay in southern Door County, and it packs a lot into 1,200 acres: gently rolling upland terrain, steep slopes, and rugged limestone cliffs. You can paddle the shoreline, hike or bike the trails, and camp in a large campground. If you're a long-distance hiker, you can also stand at the eastern end of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Based on our late-September visit, it's also a park where you can still find some peace and quiet. If you're thinking about visiting, this guide to Potawatomi State Park is a great place to start your planning.
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My Experience at Potawatomi State Park
We visited on a Monday afternoon in late September and felt like we had the park almost to ourselves. We parked at the observation tower, walked a portion of the Ice Age and Tower trails, and climbed the 75-foot tower for views across Sturgeon Bay. We also enjoyed a scenic drive through the park and finished with golden hour at the Old Ski Hill Overlook.
The hardwood forest along the Ice Age Trail was a pleasant surprise. The low understory, mostly ground cover, made it easy to see far across the woods, and we spotted shimmering spider webs, two deer exploring the forest, and what looked like large limestone slabs underfoot. The Old Ski Hill Overlook was stunning in the early evening light. If you're a long-distance hiker, you'll also appreciate the markers for the eastern terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in the same parking area.
Potawatomi State Park Quick Facts
Location: 3740 County Highway PD, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, on the western shore of Sturgeon Bay.
State park fee: A Wisconsin State Parks vehicle admission pass is required. As of October 2026, Wisconsin-plate daily passes are $13 and annual stickers are $28. Out-of-state daily passes are about $16, and nonresident annual stickers are $50.
Open year-round: The park is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The nature center has seasonal hours, so check before you go.
Miles of trail: About 9 miles of hiking trails, about 8 miles of off-road bike trails, and over two miles of shoreline
Activities: Hiking, biking, camping, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing
Pets: Allowed on trails when not snow-covered, on a leash no longer than 8 feet
For the most up-to-date park hours, admission prices and trail status information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
What Makes Potawatomi State Park Special
Potawatomi State Park is a bit of an overachiever. It's a geology lesson, a hiking milestone, and a history lesson all in one park, and it’s conveniently situated a short drive from downtown Sturgeon Bay.
The park sits on the Niagara Escarpment, the limestone ridge that shapes much of Door County, which explains the steep slopes and rugged limestone cliffs along the bay. We noticed what looked like limestone slabs underfoot on the trail. If you want the full backstory, the Ancient Shores Trail has signs about three ancient shorelines that once sat at different levels. It's a short, easy way to see how much the water has moved around this region.
Then there's the Ice Age Trail, a roughly 1,000-mile National Scenic Trail that traces the edge of the last glacier in Wisconsin, and Potawatomi is where it begins in the east. Long-distance hikers can start or finish the full trek here, and the rest of us can pretend to be long-distance hikers by taking a day hike on the 2.8-mile segment inside the park. (It's a very easy way to feel accomplished, and I'm not above it.)
When you're ready for a break from the trail, the park's 1931 observation tower is the place to go for a view across Sturgeon Bay. It was the first purpose-built recreational tower in a Wisconsin state park, and it's now listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, which is a lot of status for a staircase with a view.
Potawatomi State Park's history runs deeper than the trails. It's named in honor of the tribe that lived along Green Bay's shores and islands when Europeans first settled the area, who called themselves Bo-De-Wad-Me, meaning "keeper of the fire."
Things to Do at Potawatomi State Park
Hike the Trails
Potawatomi has four main hiking trails, ranging from a half-mile stroll to a nearly four-mile loop:
Ancient Shores Trail (0.5 miles): An easy, educational path that starts by the nature center and park store. A good choice for kids or a quick stretch.
Hemlock Trail (2.6 miles): Begins at Parking Lot 2 in the picnic area, with restrooms and drinking water at the trailhead. It follows the Green Bay shoreline, passes the campground, and loops through the park's interior.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail (2.8 miles within the park): Starts near the Old Ski Hill Overlook and leaves the park off Shoreline Road, continuing into Sturgeon Bay.
Tower Trail (3.6 miles): Leads to the observation tower on the park's highest bluff, looping through the park and campground.
We hiked out and back along a stretch where the Ice Age and Tower trails run together, south of the observation tower. It was relatively flat and forested, the kind of walk that suits most hikers, including families with small children. It's not a trail that makes you work for it, which is exactly what I wanted at the end of a long week of Door County exploring.
Climb the Observation Tower
We climbed all 75 feet, and the views across Sturgeon Bay were worth every step. The wooden tower was closed in December 2017 because of significant wood decay, and after years of effort by the Wisconsin DNR and local advocates, it reopened in April 2025, which is a rare happy ending for a historic wooden tower.
Fair warning: it's a staircase, so it isn't accessible to everyone. The at Potawatomi. In the meantime, visitors with accessibility needs may prefer Eagle Tower at Peninsula State Park.
Visit the Old Ski Hill Overlook and the Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age Trail
The Old Ski Hill Overlook is one of the park's best viewpoints, with broad views of the Green Bay shoreline from the top of the, you guessed it, old ski hill. It's also the spot for long-distance hikers, since the eastern end of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail is marked in the same parking area. We saved it for golden hour, and I'd happily make the same call again.
Get on the Water: Boat Launch, Kayaking, and Paddleboarding
The park has a boat launch on Sawyer Harbor, a sheltered inlet at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay, along with a fish cleaning station and an accessible fishing pier. The park store rents canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards in season, in partnership with Door County Adventure Center. Anglers can also borrow basic fishing equipment free of charge from the park office through the DNR's tackle loaner program.
Bike the Park
About eight miles of off-road bike trails wind through the park, and you can ride on any park road as well. Rentals are available at the park store on a first-come, first-served basis. We stuck to hiking, but we saw several people biking during our visit.
Picnic Along the Shoreline
We didn't picnic on this trip, but with several picnic areas and tables lined up along the Sturgeon Bay shoreline, it's easy to turn a hike into a full afternoon.
Stop at the Nature Center and Park Store
The nature center and park store sit side by side near the Ancient Shores trailhead. The store sells camping basics like firewood, ice, fire starters, snacks, drinks, and s'mores supplies.
Camp at Daisy Field Campground
Daisy Field Campground has two loops with 123 campsites, 40 of them electric, plus four group sites that each sleep up to 30 people. There's also a fully accessible cabin and two paved, accessible campsites in the south loop. Showers and a dump station are available in season. Reservations open 11 months in advance, and a vehicle admission pass is required in addition to the camping fee. We only visited for the day, but the campground looked inviting as we drove past.
Winter Activities
Potawatomi stays open in winter, with four main cold-weather activities.
Cross-country skiing: About 8.5 miles of ski trails are groomed across four routes. Blue, Black, and Red trails are set for both classic and skate skiing, while Green is classic only. Parking and restrooms are at the Group Camp trailhead, and the Friends of Potawatomi State Park and volunteers help maintain the trails.
Snowshoeing and winter hiking: Hikers and snowshoers can explore most of the park, but need to stay off the groomed ski trails. Three routes are designated for winter walking: the half-mile Nature Trail, a one-mile loop through the south shoreline picnic area, and a one-mile stretch of the Ice Age Trail along the shore north of the campground.
Snowmobiling: About 8 miles of marked trails connect to Door County's snowmobile network. Stick to the orange-blazed trails, since sleds aren't allowed on plowed roads, ski trails, or the old ski Hill.
Ice fishing: The Sawyer Harbor boat landing is a popular access point. The DNR doesn't monitor ice conditions, so use caution, and don't leave ice shanties on park property overnight.
Hunting Season
Not the most glamorous tip, but an important one for fall visitors: hunting and trapping are allowed in open areas of the park during the state park season. Check the park's hunting map before you go.
Support Potawatomi Park
The Friends of Potawatomi State Park already help keep the park's ski trails maintained, and they're now working with park staff on a project at the Old Ski Hill Overlook, the same spot where we watched the golden-hour light over the bay. The plan calls for a new open-air shelter and improved parking at the overlook, which sits right by the eastern end of the Ice Age Trail. The shelter would give hikers, families, and other visitors a place to gather and take in the Green Bay shoreline views.
If you'd like to help, you can donate through Door County's State Park Challenge.
Getting to Potawatomi State Park
Potawatomi State Park is at 3740 County Highway PD, near the city of Sturgeon Bay in southern Door County. Follow signs to the park entrance, stop at the entrance station or pay station if the office is closed, and display your vehicle admission pass. We parked at the observation tower lot, which gave us direct access to the Ice Age and Tower trails.
Tips for Visiting Potawatomi State Park
Buy your vehicle admission pass before you arrive, or use the pay station.
Check the DNR conditions page for the observation tower, campground, and any construction notices.
Bring layers. Bay breezes can make the overlook cooler than inland.
If you're visiting in fall, check the hunting map.
Check the nature center hours, since they change by season.
Park at the observation tower for easy access to both the tower and the trails.
Visit on a weekday afternoon for the quietest experience, and save the Old Ski Hill Overlook for golden hour.
Potawatomi State Park FAQs
Do you need a state park pass for Potawatomi State Park?
Yes. A Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission pass is required, and campers pay it in addition to the camping fee. You can buy it online or at the pay station outside the park office when it's closed.
Where is the eastern end of the Ice Age Trail?
The eastern terminus is in Potawatomi State Park, near the Old Ski Hill Overlook. The 2.8-mile in-park segment leaves the park off Shoreline Road and continues into Sturgeon Bay.
Can you climb the observation tower at Potawatomi State Park?
Yes. The 75-foot observation tower reopened in April 2025 after being closed for several years because of wood decay. The climb is by stairs and isn't accessible to everyone, so check the DNR conditions page for any seasonal closures before you go.
How many miles of trails does Potawatomi State Park have?
About 9 miles of hiking trails, about 8 miles of off-road bike trails, and roughly 8.5 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails in winter.
Does Potawatomi State Park offer kayak rentals?
Yes, the park store offers canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals in season, in partnership with Door County Adventure Center. Check current rates on the park store website.
Can you camp at Potawatomi State Park?
Yes. Daisy Field Campground has 123 sites, 40 with electricity, plus group sites and an accessible cabin. Reservations open 11 months ahead.
Is Potawatomi State Park open in winter?
Yes, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. Winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
Are dogs allowed at Potawatomi State Park?
Pets are allowed on trails when not snow-covered, on a leash no longer than 8 feet.
What's the best way to spend a short visit at Potawatomi State Park?
If you only have a few hours, park at the observation tower and combine three highlights: climb the 75-foot tower for views across Sturgeon Bay, walk a flat stretch of the Ice Age and Tower trails, and finish at the Old Ski Hill Overlook, where the eastern terminus of the Ice Age Trail is marked. That's what we did on a late-September Monday afternoon, and it was a good way to see the park without a long hike.
Is Potawatomi State Park worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want a quiet outing with big views. On a late-September Monday, we nearly had the park to ourselves. We climbed the historic observation tower for views across Sturgeon Bay, walked a flat stretch of the Ice Age Trail through hardwood forest, and ended the day at the Old Ski Hill Overlook at golden hour. The easy trails make it a good fit for families and hikers who want a short outing, and it's also a nice stop for long-distance hikers who want to see the eastern end of the Ice Age Trail.
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Hi, I’m Jess
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